Unified Partners

On February 1st, 2026, about fifteen athletes from Special Olympics Connecticut - North Haven walked into Choate Rosemary Hall’s Larry Hart Pool, and about thirty Choate students were already in the lobby waiting for them. We warmed up first, and then we paired each Special Olympics athlete with a Choate swimmer. People swam a few easy laps, learned each other's names, and showed off their favorite “cellys” (celebrations done after winning a race). Then we ran relays, and nobody won them. Everyone got a medal, which was the only result any of us wanted. Afterward, everyone walked across campus to the dining hall and ate a meal at the same tables, and to this day I still remember the feeling in the air as the best there ever was.

Beth’s journey with Special Olympics began the way many meaningful stories do, unexpectedly, and with a simple ask.

Staged under fluorescent lights, an orderly arrangement of turf courts hosts their competition: Special Olympics USA Games bocce athletes and Unified partners, athletes without intellectual disabilities.

When the final whistle blew at the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026 the memories that stayed with many weren't just the goals, the saves, or the trophies.

At the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026, Special Olympics coaches spent most of their time plotting against one another’s teams.

The renewed partnership between Special Olympics and Topgolf continues to expand opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities around the world, creating new pathways into golf and growing participation numbers in the sport while also strengthening competition opportunities across the movement.

Demonstration sessions introduce athletes and coaches to the sport while creating lasting opportunities for badminton’s growth in North America

Experience the power of inclusion through the beautiful game at the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026.